There was just a week left before the Examinations, Everyone was busy preparing for exams.
Solace was currently sitting in a library with a mountain of books in front of him.
"I don't want to study anymore!" He groaned, "If I read even a single letter, I might just forget everything we just studied"
He was tired of cramming. Although he said, how hard can it be. It was rough
From behind the humongous pile of books came a voice.
"Hey, I'm not going to explain it again, Gosh. And I thought I was the slow one"
The voice belonged to love. Love and Solace had been studying for a while now.
Since, from the First to the Fourth, everyone had exams, Love had been studying beside him, helping him study. Although he admits he is not best at study, But he was always above average.
Solace also had introduced this senior to the rest of the group, And Would Sometimes join them in the study. Recently, Lily also came back from her mother's house. It seemed she fought with Vivi. I mean, It is valid on her part, being seen as the only bad part of the family by her own father must be exhausting and sad.
Returning to reality, He pushed a long sigh
"Yes Ma'am" He said, "Not in my life I would forget such wondrous teachings of Thy"
She looked at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Love popped her fingers once.
The sound was sharp enough to make Solace flinch.
"Oh, my sweet summer child," she said lightly, leaning back in her chair, "you really want to do this right now?"
He lifted both hands in surrender, palms open. "I retract my previous statement. Entirely. Completely. Permanently."
She snorted despite herself.
Love excused herself a few minutes later.
"Bathroom break," she said, pushing her chair back. "Don't run away."
Solace lifted a hand lazily. "I'm blind, not fast."
She rolled her eyes and walked off, boots tapping softly against the polished floor.
Solace was still sitting there, fingers resting on the edge of the table, listening to the library breathe, when a familiar presence stopped in front of him.
"You look… alive."
Nolan's voice. A little hesitant. A little relieved.
Solace smiled. "Against all odds."
Nolan pulled a chair and sat down opposite him. There was a pause, the kind that came with things unsaid.
"… How are you going to write the exams?" Nolan finally asked. "I mean—"
"I'm blind," Solace finished for him. "Yeah."
Nolan scratched the back of his neck. "No offense. I just—"
"Relax," Solace said. "The principal made special arrangements. Oral examinations."
Nolan blinked. "… Oral?"
"Yep." Solace leaned back, smug. "While you peasants scribble until your wrists fall off, I'll just sit there and talk."
There was a beat.
Then Nolan laughed. A real one. "That's ridiculous."
"I know."
"That's blatant favoritism."
"Also true."
"… I'm kind of impressed."
"You should be." Solace tilted his head. "Blindness has its perks."
Nolan shifted in his seat, then straightened slightly. "Speaking of perks—"
Solace raised an eyebrow. "Oh no."
Nolan puffed his chest out, unconsciously. "I've been training. A lot. Shield control improves core strength."
Solace frowned. "Why are you telling me this?"
"So you can… appreciate it."
"I literally can't see you."
"That's not the point."
Before Solace could object, Nolan grabbed his wrist and placed Solace's hand firmly against his chest.
"Feel that," Nolan said proudly. "Solid."
Solace froze.
The library, in some cosmic act of betrayal, chose that exact moment to go very quiet.
"… Wow," Solace said slowly. "You weren't kidding."
"Right?" Nolan grinned. "Told you."
Nolan had very solid Chest Muscles, In both of his life he was not very buff, He always wanted some strong muscles- I mean who wouldn't. I mean, even in this world, He was kind of slim.
From behind them:
"Oh."
The single syllable carried danger.
Solace and Nolan both stiffened.
Love had returned, flanked by Phoebe, Vivi, Lily, and Lex. They had clearly just walked into the scene at the worst possible angle.
Solace's hand was still on Nolan's chest.
Nolan was still flexing.
Phoebe's mouth fell open.
Vivi's face went red instantly. "I—I—!"
Lily squinted. "Am I interrupting something… intimate?"
Lex looked away immediately. "I'm going to pretend I didn't see that."
Love, meanwhile, looked delighted.
"… So," she said lightly, "is this a new study technique?"
Solace yanked his hand back like he'd touched fire. "NO."
"It's not what it looks like!" Nolan blurted.
Phoebe crossed her arms, smirking. "Really? Because it looks like Solace is very hands-on with your… progress."
"I was just showing him my muscles!" Nolan protested.
"You could've just said that," Lily shot back. "Instead of, you know, seducing the blind guy."
"I AM NOT SEDUCING ANYONE!"
Vivi covered her face. "Please stop talking."
Love leaned closer to Solace, voice amused. "You didn't mention you were into men."
"I'm not!" Solace snapped. "I literally cannot see him! He grabbed my hand!"
"That's what they all say," Lily nodded sagely.
Lex cleared his throat. "Should we… leave them alone?"
"No!" Solace and Nolan said at the same time.
Phoebe laughed, loud and unrepentant. "Relax. We're just teasing."
Vivi peeked through her fingers. "S-still… you should warn us next time."
"There will be no next time," Nolan muttered.
Love finally waved a hand. "Alright, alright. Enough bullying."
She tilted her head, smiling faintly. "Though I have to admit… this is the most entertainment I've had all day."
Solace groaned and let his forehead fall against the table. "I hate all of you."